PAST WINNERS at Martinsville

RACE BONUS INFO

The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $20,000 at Martinsville for leading the points and winning the race (Jeff Gordon last won the award, $60,000 at Kansas on Sept 30, 2001). The $360,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if he is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finisher in the point
standings(10-7-2001)

IN-CAR AUDIO SITES

Fans Can Online(NASCAR Online)
looks like this is all that there is out there now....

PREVIEW, FACT SHEETS and MISC News

The 'Gate' at Kansas and Lowes UPDATE: many readers noticed the while 'gate or fence' Winston Cup Officials held above Jeff Gordon so he couldn't get on the roof of the car in the winners circle/victory lane. On CNN/SI's NASCAR Plus, Benny Parsons was asked about the 'gate' and said he wasn't sure why, but that it was probably to keep the driver off the top of the car so a proper insepction could be done. Last year at California, the #12 Team was penalized for having a car that was too low and it was caused by Mayfield jumping on the roof of the car, denting the spot that the inspectors measure. Otherwise have seen nothing official on the reason for the gate(10-2-2001)UPDATE: sources have confirmed that NASCAR doesnt want the drivers on the roof tops after the race for saftey and technical reasons(10-3/8-2001)

Grand Marshal/Starter: Sen. John Warner and Sen. George Allen will be on hand at Martinsville Speedway Sunday and will join in pre-race festivities. Warner, a four-term Republican, will be the Grand Marshal for the Old Dominion 500. Allen, a Republican in his first term in the Senate, will be the Old Dominion 500’s official starter. Warner will give the command “gentlemen start your engines” to signal drivers to fire their motors. Allen will wave the green flag from the flagstand on the first lap to officially start the Old Dominion 500.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-11-2001)

Martinsville Facts: There have been 91 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Martinsville since 1956. Ricky Rudd has scored four Bud Poles at Martinsville, the most among active drivers. There have been eight different race winners in the last eight races at Martinsville. Rusty Wallace won five of the seven races at Martinsville from 1993 through the spring of 1996. Wallace has gone 10 races at Martinsville since his last win in the 1996 Goody's 500. Rusty Wallace leads all active drivers with six victories at Martinsville. A sweep has occurred eight times in the 38 years of continuous twice-a-year NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Martinsville (1962 to 2000). Rusty Wallace was the last driver to win both Martinsville races in the same year, doing so in 1994. A Ford has only won 14 times at Martinsville in the 58 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in the modern era (since 1972); the victories have all occurred since 1986.(NASCAR PR)(10-10-2001)

Gant to Return for a Race? UPDATE 3: hearing Andy Petree Racing is preparing a car for retired Cup driver Harry Gant to possibly run at Martinsville. Not sure if it to run in the race or as a tribute of some sort. Gant retired from Cup after the 1994 season. That is all I have heard(7-13-2001)UPDATE: hearing Gant will not run the race but it is about restoring his old car and giving it to him at Martinsville on Ict 14th(7-14-2001)UPDATE 2: There’s been a rumor about APR possibly having a car for a “Harry Gant Day” at Martinsville, Va., in October. The rumor is somewhat true. “The X1 car that Harry drove to four wins in a row has recently been rebuilt by our shop guys. It’s sitting out in our showroom in the front of the shop. We are thinking about having the car at Martinsville for Harry, but not for him to race. It would just be a nice tribute, but nothing’s final on that yet,” Barkdoll said.(Henderson Times)(7-17-2001)UPDATE 3: have been told that there will NOT be a "Harry Gant Day" at Martinsville and Gant will not be at the track this weekend(10-10-2001)

QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTSnews and links

Craven wins at Martinsville in the Old Dominion 500, his first ever career Winston Cup win and PPI Motorsport's first ever Cup win. Craven's win came in his 174th career Cup start and the 159th driver to win a Cup race. The win puts Craven into the 2002 The Winston. The top 10:
1) #32-Craven
2) #88-Jarrett
3) #22-Burton
4) #18-Labonte
5) #99-Burton
6) #10-Benson
7) #6-Martin
8) #12-Wallace
9) #24-Gordon
10) #40-MarlinSome notes: the #'s 4-Bickle,13-Salder(twice), 25-Nadeau, 2-Wallace, #93-Blaney have spun. #77-Pressley had something break, spun and backed into the wall. The #'s 43, 01, 71 and 14 got togther with the #43 and #01 spinning; #8-Earnhardt spun and backed into the wall doing slight damage; #66-Bodine got spun out by #22-Burton on pitroad; #33-Nemechek and #1-Wallace got together and Nemechek spun out. #55-Hamilton bumps #29-Harvick and passes Harvick and then #29-Harvick spins out Hamilton who loses many positions, Harvick was then held for a lap by NASCAR for rough driving
See for Old Dominion 500 results and see my Driver's Points page for the standings(10-15-2001)

Trickle in the #71? UPDATE: Dave Marcis asked Dick Trickle to qualify his car for the Old Dominion 500, saying he might come back if Trickle was able to get the ride in the race. Trickle did just that, but now Marcis may let him drive it anyway. "We're still waiting to see what'll happen," Trickle said. "I might get my chance yet."(News and Observer)UPDATE: no, Marcis is running the #71 Realtree Chevy(10-15-2001)

UPDATE - Why can Harvick drive in the Cup race since he is a rookie and 'supposedly' a rookie must practice and qualify the car they compete in? My understanding is that NASCAR may determine the rookie status of a driver based on experience at a race track or in the series. Since Harvick has ran 28 of the 29 previous Cup races, won two and is leading the BGN points, it was probably decided he could handle it. Plus he has already raced at Martinsville. ALSO it is my understanding that a rookie driver did not get rookie points for a race unless he also qualified the car. That means Harvick would not get points or money for winning or anything else rookie-wise, if this is the case.(10-13-2001)UPDATE: been informed that Harvick will NOT receive the customary 1 point for attempting to qualify for the Martinsville event, but he WILL still retain any rookie points for his finishing order.(10-15-2001)

RAIN postpones race Martinsville until Monday: The Cup race at Martinsville has been postponed and will run at 11:00am/et on Monday, Oct 15th and will be televised live on TNT(10-14-2001)

Subs: Kyle Petty would had driven the #1 Pennzoil Chevy and Rick Mast would had driven the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy at Martinsville. BUT since Cup race got rained out on Sunday and will run Monday, Kenny Wallace(#1) and Kevin Harvick(#29) will run the Cup race. Since Wallace qualified the car, he will start 37th. Mast qualified the #29, so Harvick will fall to the rear of the field, as will #71-Dave Marcis who had Dick Trickle qualify his car and #99-Jeff Burton who went to a backup after a Happy Hour practice accident.(10-14-2001)

Another did ya know? It has been 19 years since the winner of the fall race at Martinville went on to claim the Winston Cup championship. The last to do it was Darrell Waltrip in 1982(AP/Sporting News)(10-14-2001)

Happy Hour Practice: #12-Mike Wallace was also the fastest in Happy Hour on Saturday with a speed of 92.592mph with #20-Tony Stewart 2nd at 92.429 and #31-Robby Gordon was 3rdd at 92.290. Slowest was #19-Casey Atwood at and #71-Dave Marcis at 89.528. Had a few incidents: #28-Rudd lost and engine, #99-Burton was behind Rudd and spun in the fluids, hit the wall and will have to go to a backup car. Burton is ok. #25-Nadeau hit the wall and pancaked the side of his car, but the crew will fix the car and Nadeau will not have to go to a backup. Kerry Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr practiced the #1-Pennzoil Chevy for Kenny Wallace. See for Happy Hour Practice Speeds(10-13-2001)

Why Bodine over Long? Brett Bodine's lap at 91.954mph (a time of 20.593 seconds or 91.9536mph rounded to 91.954) tied Carl Long for the 36th fastest speed. Because of Bodine's higher status in the car owner standings, he got the final spot available on speed and Long wound up going home along with Kyle Petty and Frank Kimmel.(10-13-2001)

Did You Know? #40-Sterling Marlin, #36-Ken Schrader and #15-Michael Waltrip are the only drivers in the Martinsville field who have competed in more than 100 short-track races without a victory.(AP)(10-13-2001)

Saturday 1st Practice: #12-Mike Wallace was the fastest in the Saturday AM practice at Martinsville with a speed of 92.628mph. 2nd fastest was #88-Dale Jarrett at 92.088. Slowest was 1-Kerry Earnhardt, who practiced the carfor Kenny Wallace who in at the BGN race in Memphis. See for Speeds from Saturday's first practice(10-13-2001)

Todd Bodine on the pole at Martinsville for the Old Dominion 500. #66-Todd Bodine won his third Bud Pole of the 2001 season and fourth of his career at Martinsville with a speed of 93.724mph (track record is 95.371 set last year by Tony Stewart), the top five were:
1). #66-Bodine 93.724
2). #8-Earnhardt Jr 93.617
3). #24-Gordon 93.488
4). #88-Jarrett 93.322
5). #10-Benson 93.290
slowest was #26-Spencer 88.606 wiggled on both laps. See for Old Dominion 500 qualifying results or NASCAR.com for the Starting Lineup or MotorsportsOne(10-12-2001)

Missing the race (DNQ - Did Not Qualify) at Martinsville were #45-Kyle Petty(42nd in owners points); #85-Carl Long(49th); #46-Frank Kimmel(64th)(10-12-2001)

Provisionals at Martinsville: #1-Kenny Wallace(11th in owners points); #26-Jimmy Spencer(14th); #21-Elliott Sadler(20th, his 13th provisional of the year); #97-Kurt Busch(29th, now out of provisionals until Phoenix); #01-Jason Leffler(36th); and #92-Stacy Compton(37th, now out of provisionals until Phoenix) used provisionals to stast the race. For more info, see my Provisionals Page(10-12-2001)

How did the Rookie of the Year candidiates do at Martinsville?
#01-Leffler, 91.293, starts 42nd, provisional
#14-Hornaday, 92.692 starts 17th
#19-Atwood, 91.328 starts 41st, provisional
#29-Harvick (Mast qualified the car), 92.021 starts 35th, but Harvick will have to go to the backof the field before the start of the race
#97-Busch, 91.639, starts 40th, provisional(10-12-2001)

Qualifying Order is up for Martinsville: See above for the link(s). 46 drivers listed, no #89-Morgan Shepherd(as listed on the Entry List). First scheduled out is #43-John Andretti, last scheduled out is #88-Dale Jarrett(10-12-2001)

Friday Practice Speeds at Martinsville, #20-Tony Stewart was the fastest at 93.798mph with #55-Bobby Hamilton 2nd fastest at 93.715. Slowest were #46-Frank Kimmel at 91.500, #85-Carl Long at 91.403 and #01-Jason Leffler at 91.139. As reported before, Dick Trickle will practice and qualify the #71 Realtree Chevy for Dave Marcis, he was 35th fastest at 92.389mph. See for Friday's practice speeds(10-12-2001)

Entry List is up for the Old Dominion 500. 47 drivers/teams listed, including #4-Rich Bickle, #13-Hermie Sadler, #46-Frank Kimmel, #71-Dave Marcis, #85-Carl Long, and #89-Morgan Shepherd. See the link above(10-10-2001)

Back to 2 laps UPDATE: it was announced at the beginning of CNN/SI's qualifying coverage that qualifying would go back to 2 laps of qualifying at all Super Speedways (1 mile or more) starting this week at Michigan. So I guess that means 2 laps is back for all the tracks since 2 laps were going to be the cast at the two short tracks and restrictor plate tracks. All but the road courses which there will be no more in 2001(8-17-2001)UPDATE: NASCAR officials have changed their minds again and gone back to two laps during its single round of qualifying. NASCAR announced at Daytona in early July that qualifying would be reduced to a single lap at tracks of 1-mile or longer except for Daytona and Talladega, beginning at New Hampshire on July 22. Teams ran two laps at New Hampshire, however, because of a new sealer that had been applied to the track's surface. The cars then ran one lap for three races, but after complaints from the teams that a single lap prevented them from overcoming a mistake, the policy has been changed again and cars can now once more run a second lap if they choose()(8-18-2001)

Qualifying Rules Changed UPDATE: ESPN2's RPM 2Night mentioned tonight that starting at New Hampshire that qualifying would consist of one lap of qualifying instead of the two laps that have been run this year. The exceptions are tracks smaller then one mile (Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville) and the two restrictor plate tracks, Daytona and Talladega(7-5-2001)UPDATE: it was mentioned on FSN's Totally NASCAR show on Thurs that the Cup drivers would run 2 laps of Qualifying for the New England 300 at New Hampshire. The plan is to still have one lap of qualifying at all intermediate tracks (1 to 2 miles in length) but the format will be determined in a track-to-track basis for the rest of the season(7-19-2001)

an interesting point: When NASCAR officials decided to disallow Jerry Nadeau's qualifying time at Daytona in Feb 2001, it raised an interesting question. With the Winston Cup series having only one round of qualifying the rest of the season, what happens if an unapproved part is found? According to NASCAR, drivers no longer have to post an official qualifying time to use a provisional, they only have to practice. So a driver could have a penalty on a qualifying issue but still have access to one of the seven provisionals for the race(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-11-2001)

How to break a tie during qualifying?(same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski's Provisional Status page

TRACK/RACE NEWS

Coolers at Martinsville? UPDATE yes: hearing Martinsville Speedway has decided to allow coolers and other items in the track as normal but every item will be searched(9-25-2001)UPDATE: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell announced late Monday afternoon that coolers and other carry-in items would be allowed at events the speedway hosts this fall. But all coolers will be searched and all other items, including backpacks
and camera bags, will be subject to search. The decision was made after speedway officials met with local, state and federal law enforcement officials Monday afternoon. Campbell said the security force at Martinsville Speedway will be increased by 25 percent for the Taco Bell 300 Late Model Stock Car race this weekend and the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race weekend October 12-14. Campbell said security personnel would work back through the lines at entrances, checking items before fans get to the ticket takers, to
help speed up the process. Other, new safety regulations have also been put into place. Once items are searched, they will be tagged with a sticker. Anyone leaving with a stickered item before the end of the race will not be allowed to re-enter. No vehicular traffic will be allowed under the grandstands during race weekend. If canned beverages are brought into the track in the case they were purchased, they will be taken out of the case during inspection at the gate(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-25-2001)

NASCAR, NHRA and the Army: The United States Army Top Fuel drag racing program is going NASCAR, it was announced today. With its 6,000-horsepower Top Fuel (show car) dragster, an interactive display and a group of recruiters in tow, the United States Army will be a visible element at NASCAR Winston Cup Series tracks the rest of the season. Beginning with last weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway through the race at Atlanta in November, the Army will set up a 50x75 interactive area and four additional 10x10 areas at all of the race venues, primarily, for recruiting purposes. Additionally, the U.S. Army Top Fuel (show car) dragster will be on display each weekend and is scheduled to be started at most of the tracks prior to the Winston Cup race. The U.S. Army has been the primary advertiser on Schumacher’s Top Fuel dragster since the 2000 U.S. Nationals last September(Kermish-Geylin PR)(10-3-2001)

Aircraft Ban at Stadiums UPDATE: Effective as of noon yesterday (9-20-01) the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has banned all aircraft from flying within 3 miles of major professional and college sporting events and any other large open air gathering. This protected "no-fly zone'' extends up to an altitude of 3,000 feet above such facilities, which by definition, include race tracks. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown, said the regulation applies to all types of aircraft including small planes, blimps, balloons and gliders. "We issued this to cover everything,'' Brown said. ``It's a blanket order so that it would include a state fair, a high school football game.'' This ban could change how we view races on TV if the helicopter that relays in-car camera signals would be out of effective signal range above the 3000-foot ceiling or prevented from remaining in the air space at that height by conflicts with scheduled air traffic. It appears blimps will also be prevented from providing their normal overhead views as well. Radio traffic between NASCAR, teams, track officials, spotters and drivers is direct and will not be impacted.(Speedway Illustrated)(9-21-2001)UPDATE: Dover Track president Denis McGlynn said a no-fly zone will be in effect for today's race, no aircraft within 3,000 feet or three miles laterally, but said NBC's in-car camera relays should be fine as long as its helicopter stays at least 3,000 feet above the speedway(AJC)(9-23-2001)

Martinsville Tunnel: Martinsville Speedway officials unveiled plans this morning for a 160-foot pedestrian tunnel under the racing surface in the fourth turn of the .526-mile oval. Work has already begun on the project, which is expected to be completed in
two weeks. The addition of the tunnel will allow pedestrian traffic in and out of the infield regardless of what is happening on the racing surface. The tunnel will consist of 26 precast reinforced concrete boxes that are eight feet wide and eight feet high. The 160-foot long tunnel will be 15 feet underground in its lowest point. The addition of the tunnel will make life easier for anyone who needs to enter or leave the infield any time cars are on the track. No longer will members of the media or crew members or even drivers have to wait for a break in practice to get in or out of the infield. It will be especially beneficial during the hectic Friday of Winston Cup week when the track can remain open instead of periodically closing for the crossover gate to open. Campbell said he expects the tunnel will save at least a half-hour of track time on those busy Fridays. The general contractor for the project is Steve Martin Trenching, Inc. of Bassett, Va., while Hanson Pipe and Products of Salem, Va., is providing the precast concrete sections(Martinsville Speedway)(7-24-2001)

Martinsville 2002 Dates: Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell Friday morning announced the historic track’s two NASCAR Winston Cup dates for 2002. The .526-mile track will host the NASCAR Winston Cup Series on Sunday, April 14 for the Virginia 500 and Sunday, October 20 for the Old Dominion 500. Next year – 2002 – will be the 54th season the Winston Cup Series has visited Martinsville Speedway. The track has been hosting Winston Cup races longer than any other track on the circuit. Next year’s dates, April 14 and October 20, are each a week later than in 2001. Tickets for the 2002 Virginia 500 go on sale on August 8 while tickets for the 2002 Old Dominion 500 will go on sale March 6, 2002. There still are excellent reserved seats available for the Old Dominion 500 in the towers and concrete bleacher sections from $40-$70(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-21-2001)

How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

Jarrett says no driver standby: #88-Dale Jarrett, who won the spring race at Martinsville, says he doesn't plan to have a standby driver this weekend. Jarrett is recovering from a concussion and broken rib he suffered in a crash at Kansas Speedway on Sept.30. Rick Mast was Jarrett's standby driver at Charlotte last weekend. Jarrett admits he's about 60 percent healthy but says he should be fine to go all 500 laps(Roanoke Times)(10-10-2001)

Mast in the #31? UPDATE 2 in the #29 for practice/qualifyng: hearing Rick Mast will run the #31 Lowes Chevy at Martinsville in a one race deal(10-7-2001)UPDATE: Rick Mast, who lost his Winston Cup ride when his Eel River Racing team folded last week, is testing the No. 31 Chevrolet this week for Richard Childress Racing at South Carolina's Greenville-Pickens Speedway, team officials confirmed. It remains unclear whether Mast will drive the car at Martinsville, Va., next weekend. Robby Gordon has been driving the #31, but failed to qualify for Sunday's s race, the first time the #31 missed a race since 1998.()AND Two of Childress' cars missed the race this weekend, and it was the first time that the #31 car was not in the field since the Coca-Cola 600 in 1997. Childress says he has "a whole different plan that we're going to approach with Kevin (Harvick and his car) and the #31 car" but wouldn't expound on the details other than to say that Robby Gordon "would be in Martinsville on Friday."(Sporting News)ANDFSN's Totally NASCAR reported that the team went to Greenville-Pickens Speedway with both Robby Gordon and Rick Mast, Larry McReynold's said that at the end of the two day test, the team may consider having Mast qualify the #31 Chevy for the race. Would assume then that Gordon would run the race to gain experience(10-8-2001)UPDATE 2: Rick Mast will practice and qualify the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy for regular driver Kevin Harvick at Martinsville. Harvick will be in Memphis for the BGN race on Saturday. Harvick will drive the #29 Chevy in the race, but will have to fall to the back of the field before the start of the race(ESPN2's PRM 2Night)(10-9-2001)

Long at Martinsville? UPDATE: #85-Carl Long who made the race at Lowes Motor Speedway last weekend, may attempt the Cup race at Martinsville this weekend(10-9-2001)UPDATE: The #85 team and driver Carl Long will be attempting the Martinsville race this weekend. They will be using the Ford Taurus short track car for the events at Martinsville(Mansion Motorsports)(10-9-2001)

Sadler Back at Martinsville - looks ahead:#13-Hermie Sadler is fresh off of his second career Winston Cup Start and confident Martinsville will be chalked up as his third.. Sadler is running a limited number of races on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule this season and believes the recent addition of veteran crew chief Jim Long has made a big difference in the future success of his race team. "We're more prepared for Martinsville this time around," stated Sadler.. "I don't believe in doing things the same way and expecting different results. We've made some personnel changes and the progress we've made over the past month was shown when we qualified for the race at Dover. We tested Martinsville last week and I'm optimistic about our chances this weekend." According to Sadler, "We have a lot of things going on right now.. I am talking to sponsors about sponsoring my car and I'm talking to various owners about driving their cars.. I just want to race and run well whether it's in the Winston Cup Series, the Busch Series, or the Craftsman Truck Series. I hope to know within a few weeks what the Virginia Lottery plans to do next year.. We've had a great promotion that has benefited everyone involved. If we're unable to put together a full season next year with a sponsor or another team, I would like to run at least 12 to 15 races.. I think there are several sponsors that would find that beneficial and can tailor their marketing programs around the different markets where NASCAR events are held.. Not all companies have 12 million dollars to spend in advertising and the Virginia Lottery has shown this year that a successful marketing program can still exist in NASCAR without running the full schedule." In addition to running Martinsville this weekend, Sadler also plans to race in Homestead and Atlanta(Sadler Enterprises PR)(10-9-2001)

Kimmel to Cup? UPDATE: Frank Kimmel, current ARCA point leader and two-time champion, may venture into Winston Cup next season for three races. The only track that was mentioned for sure was Charlotte. His current sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, may be the one backing the effort. The 38-year old native of Jeffersonville, Ind., was the series rookie of the year in 1992 and was a runner-up in championship points in 1994, '97 and '99.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(6-23-2001)UPDATE: During the next three months, Kimmel and his sponsors hope to build a similar foundation in Winston Cup. Advance Auto is committed to supporting Kimmel in his bid to race in Winston Cup events later this year at Charlotte, Martinsville and Atlanta. He will continue to race on the ARCA series, in which he has an 835-point lead in his bid for a third championship in four years. One reason that Kimmel and Co. chose Winston Cup over other NASCAR circuits is the similarity of the cars he will be driving. He drives a Jack Roush Ford in ARCA and will be driving a Roush Ford in Winston Cup(Roanoke Times)(8-3-2001)

PAINT SCHEME NEWS

STATS and STUFF

Hamilton - 31 races - no DNF UPDATE: #55-Bobby Hamilton has been running at the end of 31 consecutive races(counting last season since he DNF'd at Phoenix), which is the circuit's longest active streak. No other drivers have made all the races in 2001 and not DNF'd(did not finish). Bill Elliott had his first DNF of 2001 at Kansas, ending a streak of 32 straight races without a DNF(10-7-2001)

Top Fives: There have been 30 different Cup drivers(no new drivers at Lowes) who have scored a Top-5 so far in 2001....2000's total was 28, 1999's total was 28 and 1998's total number was 27(10-7-2001)

Top Tens: There have been 41 different Cup drivers (no new drivers at Lowes) who have scored a Top-10 in 2001.....2000's total was 41, 1999's total was 40 and 1998's total number was 41(10-7-2001)

Provisional Finishes in 2001: In 189 provisional starts(27 races x 7 no qualifying at Darlington 3/2001 or Dover 6/2001), drivers have accumulated 2 Wins, 9 Top 5's and 24 Top 10's. #99-Jeff Burton was the highest provisional starter/finisher at Lowes with a 5th. See my Provisional Finishes Page for each race finish by the provisionals starters(10-7-2001)

No Laps Lead by Labonte yet: #5-Terry Labonte remains the only driver to race in all 29 events this season and not lead at least one lap. The last time Labonte led a lap was the Winston 500 last October at Talladega. 47 drivers have now led laps, no new lap leaders at Lowes. See the Bonus Points/Laps Led page(10-7-2001)

Consecutive Winston Cup Starts: Ricky Rudd is the current leader with with 637 consecutive starts followed by Rusty Wallace at 546, Ken Schrader with 516 and Mark Martin has 430 consecutive Cup starts. Terry Labonte had 655 (and holds the all time record) but sat out the 2000 Brickyard 400 to end his record streak. Dale Earnhardt had 648 consecutive Winston Cup starts until his death at Daytona(10-7-2001)

2000 winners who have not won in 2001: Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth and Jerry Nadeau. Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti earned victories in 1999 and have not won since.(10-7-2000)

No Top Fives Since.... It has been a while since some drivers have had a top five finish on the Winston Cup circuit. Here are those with the longest streak of races without a top-five finish:

15th Different Winner in 2001 a record: when #22-Ward Burton won the 2001 Southern 500, he became the 15th different Winston Cup winner in 2001, which breaks the record for NASCAR's modern era (which began in 1972) of 14 set in 2000 and 1991. Winners in 2001: #15-Waltrip, #1-Park, #24-Gordon, #29-Harvick, #88-Jarrett, #21-Sadler, #55-Hamilton, #2-Wallace, #20-Stewart, #99-Burton, #28-Rudd, #18-Labonte, #40-Marlin, #22-Burton, #8-Earnhardt Jr.(9-2-2001)

Different Winners in 2000: There were 14 different race winners in 2000, the most in a single season since 1991 when there were 14, which is a record for NASCAR's modern era, which began in 1972.
The drivers who won in 2000: Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Steve Park, Jeremy Mayfield, Ward Burton, Jeff Gordon and Jerry Nadeau. Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti are the drivers who earned victories in 1999 and did not win in 2000. Two drivers who won in 1998 Bobby Hamilton and Ricky Rudd, have not won since(11-21-2000)

Top 10's in restrictor plates: Only two drivers have finished in the top 10 in the three restrictor plate races run so far in 2001 (Daytona - twice and Talladega): #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr (2nd at Daytona, 8th at Talladega, 1st at Daytona) and #7-Mike Wallace (6th at Daytona, 9th at Talladega, 10th at Daytona in the Pepsi 400). Only one more to go, Talladega in October(7-7-2001)

Interesting UPDATE: In the past four Winston Cup seasons, the top 10 in points after seven races has provided a good indication of which drivers will be in the top 10 at season's end - 33 of 40 drivers in the final top 10s were there seven races into the season: see the chart at : Signs of things to come?UPDATE: and an addition to the story: Others in early season points peril by David Poole(4-6-2001)

A Championship Outlook: Only five times in the modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won in the first six races. The winners in the first 6 eaces this year: Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler. When did a driver win the Championship and not win a race in the first six? 1973-Benny Parsons; 1984 and 1996-Terry Labonte; 1985-Darrell Waltrip; and 1999-Dale Jarrett(3-25-2001)

Single Car Winner: Even though the #21 Wood Brothers team uses Roush chassis and engines, they are considered a single car team, and before Elliott Sadler's win at Bristol. The last time a single-car team scored a victory was by Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in September 1998(3-25-2001)

Hendrick Motorsports Double wins: Two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports have won at least one Winston Cup race for seven consecutive seasons. No other current multi-car team has done that.(Gordon 1994-2000, T Labonte 1994-1999 and Nadeau in 2000)(11-22-2000)

Four 1st Timers: The four first-time winners in 2000 was the most since 1988 when there were also four, those winners: Ken Schrader(Talladega), Alan Kulwicki(Phoenix), Phil Parsons(Talladega), and Lake Speed(Darlington). Parsons and Speed have not won in Cup since and are out of the series. Kulwicki died in an aircraft accident in 1993. Schrader is still active on the Cup circuit and has four career Cup wins. The winners in 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr(Texas), Matt Kenseth(Lowes), Steve Park(Watkins Glen) and Jerry Nadeau(Atlanta)(11-21-2000)

43rd Fact: Last driver to win from the 43rd starting spot was Fonty Flock at Raleigh, NC in 1953, the only other driver to do so was Johnny Mantz in the 1950 Southern 500

Backstretch/Provisional/Backup Car Winner: Only two drivers in the history of Bristol had ever won a race after pitting on the backstretch. Davey Allison(started 19th) in the spring 1990 race and Dale Earnhardt(26th) in the 2nd 1999 race, and now #21-Elliott Sadler who came from 38th, pitting on the backstretch and having to use a provisional to make the race in a backup car only the 4th ever Provisional Starter to gain a win in a Cup race(3-25-2001)

Provisional Starting Winners: Jeff Burton was the first driver to win from a provisional starting spot EVER at New Hampshire in 1999 and that is the farthest back any driver has won from since Kyle Petty won from 37th at Dover in June 1995(in 1995 37th was not a provisional starting spot). Bill Elliott also won from 38th spot in the 1988 Pepsi 400. In fact ALL the provisional starters for the race finished in the top 25 at NHIS(7-11-1999)UPDATE: Add Bobby Labonte as the 2nd ever provisional winner by winning the 1999 NAPA 500 at Atlanta(11-21-1999)UPDATE 2: Add Bobby Labonte as the 3rd ever provisional winner by winning the 2000 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-3-2000)UPDATE 3: Add Elliott Sadler as the 4th ever provisional winner by winning the 2001 Food City 500 at Bristol(3-25-2001)UPDATE 4: Add Ward Burton as the 5th ever provisional winner by winning the 2001 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-2-2001)

Amazing Finishes: Races won from a starting position of 35 or worse in the history of
NASCAR

Championship and no poles? ever happen? With Dale Jarrett winning the Cup championship and not scoring any poles in 1999, I was asked, has it ever happened before? Yep, five times, most recently, in 1991 when Dale Earnhardt won the Winston Cup Championship with four wins and NO poles. It also happened in 1983-Bobby Allison; 1980-Earnhardt; 1973-Benny Parsons; and 1950-Bill Rexford(The Stock Car Racing Encyclodepia)(11-14/21-1999)

Stats: Only five times in NASCAR's modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won by the sixth race of the season. Those champions were Benny Parsons in 1973, Terry Labonte in 1984 and 1996, Darrell Waltrip in 1985 and Dale Jarrett in 1999

Did ya know? When Bobby Labonte won the 2000 Winston Cup Championship, he
and his brother Terry, who won it in 1984 and 1996, have become the first brothers to do so in
Winston Cup history. There have been two father-son pairs; Lee and Richard Petty, and Ned and
Dale Jarrett AND Bobby Labonte is the first former BGN champ(since the series began in
1982, not counting the old Sportsman division) to win the Winston Cup championship(11-12-2000)